Container with seal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, for storing a product comprising a lid including a tongue; and a clamp; and a container including a groove, wherein the tongue and the groove form a seal when the lid is coupled to the container; and a bead, wherein the clamp engages with the bead when the lid is coupled to the container. An apparatus, according to another embodiment, for storing a product comprising a lid; a container configured to engage with the lid and form a secondary seal between the lid and the container; and a film seal coupled to the container.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/615,436, filed Dec. 22, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers with a sealing mechanism.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

There are containers that utilize a thin film seal to keep contents either moisturized or isolated from moisture. For example, wet moisture wipes that are used to clean floors or other surfaces are stored in a container that has a lid. Generally, when manufactured a film seal is included across the top of the container to form a moisture tight barrier. In use, after removal of the lid, the film seal can also be removed and the moisture wipes can be accessed. However, the film seal is not reusable and thus, the lid now forms the only barrier between the container and the outside of the container. In general, the lid does not provide a seal even after being placed back on the container. This leads to the moisture wipes becoming dried out. A similar problem exists with any liquid product, tea, coffee, or any other product that is moisturized or should be isolated from moisture.

Thus, a container that can provide a seal after removal of a thin film seal from the top of the container is needed.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide a container and lid that include both a film seal and a secondary seal, the secondary seal capable of being engaged before and after the film seal has been removed. Some other embodiments provide a container and lid including a tongue and groove forming a seal, the container and lid further including a bead and clamp that provide a force to keep the tongue and groove engaged.

One embodiment can be characterized as an apparatus, according to one embodiment, for storing a product comprising a lid including a tongue; and a clamp; and a container including a groove, wherein the tongue and the groove form a seal when the lid is coupled to the container; and a bead, wherein the clamp engages with the bead when the lid is coupled to the container.

Another embodiment can be characterized as an apparatus, according to another embodiment, for storing a product comprising a lid; a container configured to engage with the lid and form a secondary seal between the lid and the container; and a film seal coupled to the container.

A subsequent embodiment includes a method comprising forming a film seal on a top of a container; engaging a lid with the container; and forming a secondary seal with a tongue and a groove between the lid and the container. Optionally, the method further includes engaging a bead and a clamp to provide a force between the tongue and the groove that form the secondary seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a side cross sectional view of a portion of a container having a film seal and a lid forming a secondary seal with the container in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a side cross sectional view of the container and the lid of FIG. 1 after the film seal has been removed in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional view of a container in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional view of a container and a lid in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 5A-5C are a sequence of a diagrams illustrating a break away tab for a container in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating stackable containers in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating stackable lids in accordance with one embodiment.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions, sizing, and/or relative placement of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is usually accorded to such terms and expressions by those skilled in the corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where other specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. The present embodiments address the problems described in the background while also addressing other additional problems as will be seen from the following detailed description.

Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram is shown illustrating a side cross sectional view of a portion of a container having a film seal and a lid forming a secondary seal with the container in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a film seal 100, a gap 101, a container 102 that includes: an inner wall 106, a groove 108, a bead 110, an outer wall 112, a bumper return 114 and a rib support 116, and a lid 104 that includes: a top 118, a tongue 120, a clamp 121, an undercut 122 and an outer wall 124.

The film seal 100 provides a seal for the container 102 that is removable. Once removed, however, the film seal 100 is generally thrown away. That is, the film seal 100, once removed, does not get reapplied to the container 102. As described above, the container may contain products that are moisturized (e.g., moisture wipes) or products for which it is desirable to keep isolated from moisture (e.g., tea, coffee). The present embodiment provides a secondary seal for after the film seal 100 has been removed. FIG. 2 illustrates a side cross sectional view of the container and the lid of FIG. 1 after the film seal has been removed.

The secondary seal, in accordance with one embodiment, includes the tongue 120 and the groove 108. As shown, the tongue 120 is in the shape of a “V” such that the tongue 120 is easily lead into the groove 108 when placing the lid 104 back onto the container 102. While other shapes can function to provide the secondary seal, the “V” shape makes the lid 104 and container 102 much more user friendly. As the tongue 120 engages the groove 108, the lid 104 is going to be pushed upward and outward by the groove 108. In order to counter balance that force and provide a good seal, the container 102 includes the bead 110 and the lid 104 includes the clamp 121 and the undercut 122. The undercut 122 is a portion of the clamp 121.

The bead 110 and the clamp 121 act to provide a downward and inward force that counteracts the force between the tongue 120 and the groove 108 allowing the tongue 120 and groove 108 to provide a good secondary seal between the container 102 and the lid 104. That is, the clamp 121 grasps onto the bead 110 and pushes the tongue 120 down into the groove 108 to create the secondary seal. By forming the bead 110 in a direction upward and outward from the container 102, the proper force is applied to the tongue 120 and the groove 108. The bead 110 is wider than an opening of the clamp 121 such that the undercut 122 portion of the clamp 121 helps to create the downward and inward force for the secondary seal. While the bead 110 and the groove 108 are shown as part of the container 102 and the clamp 121 and the tongue 120 are shown as part of the lid 104 in accordance with the one embodiment, other embodiments can have any of these components integrated with either the lid 104 or the container 102 depending upon the specific design desired.

In one embodiment, the container 102 includes the outer wall 112 which has at least a portion that includes an outward slope. The outward slope makes it easier for a user to line up the tongue 120 and groove 108 when placing the lid 104 back on the container. Optionally, the gap 101 is provided between the outward slope portion of the outer wall 112 and the lid 104. The gap 101 is provided such that if portions of the film seal 100 are not completely removed the film seal 100 will not interfere with forming the secondary seal between the tongue 120 and the groove 108. In this embodiment, the outward slope includes a stepped portion before the groove 108 and the bead 110. Additionally, in this embodiment, the bead 110, the clamp 121, the tongue 120 and the groove 108 are all positioned below a flat portion of the top of the container 102 where the film seal 100 attaches to the container 102. This allows for the secondary seal to be formed outside of where the contents of the container are stored. Additionally, this configuration allows the secondary seal to be formed in an area where material from the film seal will not be left over after removal. Advantageously, this provides greater reliability in forming a good secondary seal. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary seal extends around the entire container 102.

The container 102 also optionally includes the bumper return 114. The bumper return 114 provides for a tamper evident container. Additionally, the tamper evident features will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C. As shown, the bumper return 114 is a “U” shaped outer rim portion of the container 102, however, other shapes may be optionally utilized. The bumper return 114 extends around substantially the entire container in the present embodiment. Another optional feature of the container 102 is the rib support 116. The rib support 116 is one or a plurality of supports located around the container that provide additional strength for the container 102. While the rib support 116 provides additional support for the container, the outward sloping portion of the container 102, the groove 108 and the bead 110 provide the hoop strength for the container.

The lid 104 includes the outer wall 124. Optionally, the outer wall 124 extends down into the bumper return 114 of the container 102 in order to provide a tamper evident feature for the lid 104 and container 102 (shown and described with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C). The outer wall 124 also optionally includes a stepped portion in order to provide a stacking feature for the lids (shown and described with reference to FIG. 7).

Referring to FIG. 3, a diagram is shown illustrating a three-dimensional view of a container in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a container 300, a break away corner tab 302, a bumper return 304 and a secondary seal 306.

The container 300 is shown with the lid removed. The optional break away corner tab 302 provides a tamper evident feature. After removal of the break away corner tab 302, the lid (not shown) is more easily removed from the container. The container 300 shown is a rectangular shape, however, other shapes for the container are utilized in alternative embodiments. For example, the container 300 can be round, square, oval, rectangular, triangular and other shapes in various embodiments. Additionally, the size and the depth of the container 300 varies in different embodiments depending upon the specific application and what is stored within the container 300.

Referring to FIG. 4, a diagram is shown illustrating a three-dimensional view of a container and a lid in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a container 400, a lid 402, a bumper return 404 and a break away corner tab 406. The lid 402 is secured to the container 400. The break away corner tab 406 is intact, however, may be removed in order to more easily remove the lid 402 from the container 400.

Referring next to FIGS. 5A-5C, shown are a sequence of a diagrams illustrating a break away tab for a container in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a container 500, a lid 502, a bumper return 504 and a break away corner tab 506.

In FIG. 5A, the break away corner tab 506 is intact and the lid 502 is securely fastened to the container 500. In order to gain access to the lid 502 so that it can be removed, the break away corner tab 506 is removed as shown in FIG. 5B. The lid 502 can then be grasped by a user and the lid 502 can be removed from the container such as is shown in FIG. 5C. The bumper return 504 prevents the user from accessing the lid 502 from other places around the container 500. As stated above, the bumper return 504 and the break away corner tab 506 are optional features and only present in some embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, a diagram is shown illustrating stackable containers in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a first container 600 and a second container 602. By providing a shape of the container such that it is stackable, the storage space required before the containers are filled with a product is greatly reduced.

Referring to FIG. 7, a diagram is shown illustrating stackable lids in accordance with one embodiment. Shown is a first lid 700, a second lid 702, a stepped outer wall 704 of the first lid and a stepped outer wall 706 of the second lid. Similarly to the containers, the lids are stackable in order to reduce the storage space needed before the lids are placed on the containers. In this manner, the stepped outer wall 704 of the first lid 700 engages with the stepped outer wall 706 of the second container 702.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, other modifications, variations, and arrangements of the present invention may be made in accordance with the above teachings other than as specifically described to practice the invention within the spirit and scope defined by the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for storing a product comprising: a lid; a container configured to engage with the lid and form a secondary seal between the lid and the container; and a film seal coupled to the container.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a tongue; and a groove, wherein the tongue and the groove form the secondary seal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tongue is formed in the lid and the groove is formed in the container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a bead; and a clamp, wherein the bead and the clamp create a force that keeps the tongue engaged with the groove.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tongue is formed in the lid and the groove is formed in the container and wherein the bead is formed in the container and the clamp is formed in the lid.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a bumper return on the container; and a break away corner.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the bead, the clamp, the tongue and the groove are located below the film seal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: an outer wall of the container having an outward sloping portion; and a stepped portion of the outer wall of the container.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a gap is formed above the stepped portion of the outer wall between the lid and the container.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the film seal is at least partially located in the gap that is formed between the lid and the container.
 11. A method comprising: forming a film seal on a top of a container; engaging a lid with the container; and forming a secondary seal with a tongue and a groove between the lid and the container.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising engaging a bead and a clamp to provide a force between the tongue and the groove that form the secondary seal. 